Permanent coffin-lowering attachment



(No Model.) v J. S. PLAGG. I

Y PERMANENT, coPvIN LOWBRING ATTAGHMBNT.

No. 542,361. i Patent@ July'g, 1895.

V wf m@ www STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. FLAGG, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PERMANENT COFFlN-LWERING ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,361, dated J' uly9, 1895. Appiicanon niet June 15, 189iYI serrano. 514.711-Y (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. FLAGG, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented anImprovement for the Lowering of Coffins or Gaskets into the Grave orVault, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coffins in general, ,and more particularly tomeans for lowering them into graves, and has for its object to providesuch an arrangement as will enable the pall-bearers to attend to thematter in a quiet manner and without the assistance of those who areliable to make unnecessary noise.

With this object in view my invention consists in providing a coffin,either internally orexternally, with a number of-chambers to receiveeach a cord'or coil of rope, one end of which is attached to the coffinand the other is projected from the chamber and provided, preferably,with a tassel or other ornamental hand-piece.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like symbols of reference -indicate similar parts in theseveral views, Figure l is aside View 0f a CoH-1n, showing thearrangement of external cord-receiving chambers. Fig. 2 is an enlargedview of one of said chambers, detached. Fig. 3 is a view in reverse ofFig. 2, showing the abutting face of the chamber. Fig. 4 is a section online 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa View similar to Fig. 1 and showing acoffin having the chambers Varranged internally. Fig. 6 is a section online 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows the washers used in the latterconstruction.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3,and 4 thereof, in the practice of my invention I form by molding orotherwise a series of blocks 10, preferably of metal, and each providedwith a cavity or chamber 11 at one side and an entering perforation 12,extending downwardly from its upper face. These blocks are securelyattached to 'the coffin at its ends or, sides or both, as shown, bymeans of screws or bolts or in any other desired manner. Within eachcavity or chamber 11 is placed a coil of cord or rope of suitablethickness, one end of fin to the grave-digger and his assistants,

each pall-bearer draws from its chambers a cord, and when all is readyby means thereof lowers the casket into the grave.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 is shown a different construction, which, however,involves like principles, and in which a number of perforations 13 areformed in the sides of the coffin and 65 enter chambers 14 in the lowercorners thereof, which latter serve to receive coils of cord, as in theformer instance, the operation of the entire construction being thesame. Roses 15 are secured to the coffin at the perforations 13 toprevent chipping of the wood and also to add to the appearance ofthecoffin. Y

It will be readily understood that I may Vary the details ofconstruction shown herein without departing in any way from the spiritof my invention. may be formed double, resulting in a single chamber.

Having now described my invention and its operation, what I claim is- 1.A coffin provided with a chamber adapted to receive the full length of acord, a perforation through which said cord may be drawn and meansfor'preventing the withdrawal of the entire cord.

2. A coffin having plates secured thereto, each of said plates beingprovided with a chamber to receive the full length of a cord and aperforation through which said cord may be drawn.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

i n JOI-IN S. FLAGG. Witnesses:

H. G. FLAGG, M. E. FLAGG.

The bottom of the coffin

